Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson (translated by David Warriner)

One Christmas gift I hadn't bargained on and could really, really have done without is Covid, so feeling very sorry for myself just now! But one Christmas present that I was delighted to treat myself to was a copy of the new book from one of my favourite authors. Welcome to my blog tour stop for Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson and translated into English by David Warriner. Huge thanks Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my review ebook.

The Blurb

The number one bestselling, haunting new gothic thriller from the 'Queen of French Noir', this is the first in a series and based on true events.

Art expert Emma Lindahl is anxious when she's asked to appraise the antiques and artefacts in the infamous manor house of one of Sweden's wealthiest families, on the island of Storholmen, where a young woman was murdered nine years earlier, her killer never found.

Emma must work alone, and with the Gussman family apparently avoiding her, she sees virtually no one in the house. Do they have something to hide?

As she goes about her painstaking work and one shocking discovery yields clues that lead to another, Emma becomes determined to uncover the secrets of the house and its occupants.

When the lifeless body of another young woman is found in the icy waters surrounding the island, Detective Karl Rosén arrives to investigate, and memories of his failure to solve the first case come rushing back. Could this young woman's tragic death somehow hold the key?

Battling her own demons, Emma joins forces with Karl to embark upon a chilling investigation, plunging them into horrifying secrets from the past – Viking rites and tainted love – and Scandinavia's deepest, darkest winter….

My Review

Johana Gustawsson is one of my go to authors, an automatic buy, because I've loved everything of hers I've read. So much so that I bought a limited first edition hardback copy of Yule Island, having not read it first (as I did with her previous book, The Bleeding). Yes, I was excited. She is also just one of the loveliest people too, although her books are, by contrast, very dark and often chilling. And as this one is set in the dead of winter, it is even more so! 

The book opens in 2012 with policeman Karl Rosén heading to Storholmen, a small island just a short crossing over the water from Stockholm where the body of a young woman has been discovered. Fast forward to 2021 and art and antiquities expert Emma is apprehensive about heading over to Storholmen to value the contents of the Gussman manor house as she knows they are one of the wealthiest families in Sweden. And the whole country knows of 'The Hanging Girl' from nine years earlier, a story which causes Emma to shiver. Settling into regular visits to the island and her work there she is struck by just how silent it is. It's quite unnerving in the early days. A shocking discovery in the manor house leads her to cross paths with Karl, back on the island to investigate the death of another young woman. Events lead them down a path they could not have foreseen...

It's not often I lead with scene setting over characters but I want to give special mention to the island of Storholmen, because it absolutely makes for a character itself, and to know it's a real place only makes it better. Some of the characteristics of the real island may have been exaggerated here, but I was struck by its seemingly overwhelming silence, eerie at the beginning, more comforting as time goes on. I know there are no cars on the island but there seems to be an absence of most noise. Perhaps because there is nowhere for visitors to stay not much for them to do. But it really piqued my interest.

Emma is young and enthusiastic but professional, determined to make a good impression with her new clients despite a certain sense of imposter syndrome. She doesn't seem to have many friends, save for the fabulous Lulu, but warms to a few islanders - l loved water taxi pilot Lotte. Emma makes discovery upon discovery in the manor house, many of which she really struggles with, and it's really no wonder! Karl has been a policeman for a good while, knows the law, knows right from wrong. He's full of sadness over an unsolved murder from the past and can't help fearing that this one is related in some way. But both of the main characters have their own demons to deal with, and their stories are skilfully teased out through the book. 

I'm sorry, this review is clunker than I'd hoped cos I've got brain fog but will aim for a neater wrap up! Whilst there are shocks early on, the full horror of the story builds throughout the book meaning the tension ratchets right up. And due to the insular nature of the setting, it feels very claustrophobic. I tell you, you won't want to put it down! It's beautifully written with endearing, well drawn protagonists from very different worlds. I know this is the beginning of a series but I don't know if either or both will be making a return in the follow ups but I would to see this. Whilst it's well known I like my crime on the dark side, I can only enjoy if it's balanced by some light moments. There aren't loads here, particularly with the sense of mounting dread, but they are handled well with some genuinely touching moments. 

Full of twists and turns, Yule Island had me wincing, grimacing, even gasping out loud. A tale crossing time, it touches on family, relationships, love and folklore. And it's dark. Devilishly dark. I loved it, easily one of my favourites of the year. 

I'm not organised enough to have posts already scheduled and given as I'm not well, there is unlikely to be anything from me before next Monday, so I'll take this opportunity to wish those of you who celebrate a very happy Christmas and best wishes to everyone for the new year, in case I'm not back before then! 

The Author

Born in Marseille, France, and with a degree in Political Science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French and Spanish press and television. Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series, including Block 46, Keeper and Blood Song, has won the Plume d’Argent, Balai de la découverte, Balai d’Or and Prix Marseillais du Polar awards, and is now published in nineteen countries. A TV adaptation is currently under way in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. The Bleeding was a number one bestseller in France and received immense critical acclaim across the globe. Johana lives in Sweden with her Swedish husband and their three sons.

Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir (translated by Quentin Bates)

Come with me as I travel to Iceland for today's blog tour stop. Debut novel Dead Sweet is written by Katrín Júlíusdóttir and translated into English by Quentin Bates. The death of a notable man is just the start of the mystery. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invite and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

A murder is just the beginning…

When Óttar Karlsson, a wealthy and respected government official and businessman, is found murdered, after failing to turn up at his own surprise birthday party, the police are at a loss. It isn't until young police officer Sigurdís finds a well-hidden safe in his impersonal luxury apartment that clues start emerging.

As Óttar's shady business dealings become clear, a second, unexpected line of enquiry emerges, when Sigurdís finds a US phone number in the safe, along with papers showing regular money transfers to an American account. Following the trail to Minnesota, trauma rooted in Sigurdís's own childhood threatens to resurface and the investigation strikes chillingly close to home…

Atmospheric, deeply unsettling and full of breakneck twists and turns, Dead Sweet is a startling debut thriller that uncovers a terrifying world of financial crime, sinister cults and disturbing secret lives, and kicks off an addictive, mind-blowing new series.

Dead Sweet is published in the UK by Orenda Books and came out on 7th December 2023.

My Review

Óttar Karlsson's partner has gone out of her way to make his surprise 50th birthday party perfect in every way, so when he doesn't turn up for it she is devastated. More so when he is found murdered. But as the investigation into his death progresses, it seems there was a lot more to Óttar than she, or most people, in fact, realised. And not necessarily in a good way. Keen to be actively involved in this case is young policewoman Sigurdís who has been assigned to limited duties following a violent altercation with a member of the public. But she has good instincts, something her boss can't ignore forever, especially after she discovers a well hidden safe in the dead man's apartment... 

The investigation into Óttar's death is complex, interesting and intriguing. He was a popular, well liked man, but seemed to have very few, if any, real friends. There are secret business dealings, a web of financial transactions, a secret life in America, several suspects and a number of red herrings. Sigurdís's work on the case is consistently good and it was great to see that she wasn't afraid to take the initiative when she felt it as necessary, even if she knew she might get into trouble for it. 

I loved getting to know Sigurdís and learning what has brought her to this point, and  looking a little bit as to why she lashed out in public. She has experienced significant trauma in her life and struggles to relax, particularly around colleague Unnar. Speaking of colleagues, as well as wanting to keep Sigurdís out of trouble, boss Garðar clearly has her best interests at heart, with a sometimes almost paternal attitude, and it was interesting to see just how that has come about. And, throughout, I was rooting for her to succeed.

There are some dark themes explored here but never in a gratuitous way. Everything fits into the story. There were moments, and revelations that made me angry, and some that made me sad. Interspersed amongst the main chapters are short passages from an unknown narrator and these made me uncomfortable and desperate to know how they tied in with the main storyline. 

Whilst this isn't a high action storyline, there is plenty going on and the momentum does let up. There are a lot of police procedures out there but this feels fresh. That's thanks to the writing and the excellent translation from Quentin Bates but in Sigurdís, Katrín Júlíusdóttir has created an engaging protagonist with her own strengths and flaws. An assured debut and an assured start to a new series. I look forward to reading more about Sigurdís in the future! 

The Author

Katrín Júlíusdóttir received the Blackbird Award, an Icelandic crime-writing prize, for her first novel, Dead Sweet in 2020. Her debut novel was reviewed well by critics and hit the best-seller lists in the first weeks after publication. Katrín has a political background and was a member of Parliament from 2003 until 2016. Before she was elected to Parliament, Katrín was an advisor and project manager at a tech company and a senior buyer and CEO in the retail sector, as well as the Managing Director of a student union during her uni years. She worked from a young age in the fishing industry, as a store clerk and took night time shifts at a pizza place. She studied Anthropology and has an MBA from Reykjavík University. She was raised in Kópavogur, about 15 minutes' drive from downtown Reykjavík. She now lives in the neighbouring town of Garðabær with her family. She is married to author Bjarni M. Bjarnason, who encouraged her to start writing. They have four boys.

Upstairs at the Beresford by Will Carver

I'm helping to close the blog tour for the fabulously dark Upstairs at the Beresford by Will Carver, a prequel to The Beresford which came out in 2021. Huge thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

THERE ARE WORSE PLACES THAN HELL…

Hotel Beresford is a grand, old building, just outside the city. And any soul is welcome.

Danielle Ortega works nights, singing at whatever dive bar will offer her a gig. She gets by, keeping to herself. Sam Walker gambles and drinks, and can’t keep his hands to himself. Now he’s tied up in a shoe closet with a dent in his head that matches Danielle’s broken ashtray.

The man in 731 has been dead for two days and his dog has not stopped barking. Two doors down, the couple who always smokes on the window ledge will mysteriously fall.

Upstairs, in the penthouse, Mr Balliol sees it all. He can peer into every crevice of every floor of the hotel from his screen-filled suite. He witnesses humanity and inhumanity in all its forms: loneliness, passion and desperation in equal measure. All the ingredients he needs to make a deal.

When Danielle returns home one night to find Sam gone, a series of sinister events begins to unfold. But strange things often occur at Hotel Beresford, and many are only a distraction to hide something much darker…

Upstairs at the Beresford is published by Orenda Books and came out on 9th November 2023. 

My Review

I love Will Carver books, he's now a go to author for me. But I hate that they are so hard to review! If you've read The Beresford you'll have a wee idea of what you're letting yourself in for here. If you haven't read it, don't worry, this is a prequel and you don't need to have read The Beresford. But I bet you'll want to after reading this one! 

The Beresford is a large, magnificent building at the edge of the city. We don't know which city and it doesn't matter, it could be anywhere. Full of fading grandeur, this establishment is owned by Mr Balliol, resident in the tenth floor penthouse, and managed incredibly efficiently by Carol, who lives off-site but has a room on the ground floor she can use if she wants. The Beresford is always full and how long someone needs to stay dictates the floor they end up on. In the book, we mainly focus on the longer term residents on the seventh floor but with visits both up and down the way, including to the sales conference taking place on the lower floors. This is the life of the hotel in full swing, full of colourful characters,  and things gets very dark indeed. 

We meet several residents of the seventh floor, one of whom is jazz singer Danielle. I loved the descriptions of her, how music seems to accompany her every move. And Odie, little bookworm and son of Diana and Sam Walker, and the purest thing in this book. He'll be your favourite character, I'm sure, he was mine. A young boy who has had to grow up quickly seeing his violent father take things out on his mother and what she'll do to get the money together to escape him. He's just a wee soul. We meet IP Wyatt, a reclusive author staying in an upper floor, who deletes what he's written at the end of the day. Until he gets out right. And Carol. Of indeterminate age, she's been there pretty much since the beginning, managing the hotel with a smooth efficiency, turning rooms around so they are ready for occupancy with incredible speed. But there is a deep sadness to Carol which we learn more about as the story progresses. She was a standout character for me. And Mr Balliol. What to say about him? All seeing, all knowing, he revels in people's misery, finds violence entertaining. Is he just an evil man or is there more to him? 

Because he is interested in the lost souls, the desperate, those that what something really, really badly and what they are willing to do to get it. And they don't necessarily need to be bad people. We meet the Mays who aren't residents of the hotel, a sweet older couple who live close by. Mrs May is praying hard to God for what she wants but he's just not listening. Mr Balliol is though, and willing to help. At a cost. Back in the hotel, The third floor is full of salespeople, mainly men, here for their annual conference, hosted by the genial Mr Balliol. The after party is something else - dark and grotesque, verging on horror. 

There are segments where Carver directly addresses the reader, as in previous books, and these are often angry, but address big issues. In this one, God and religion generally get a hard ride but also it shows the disconnectedness (is that a word? Don't think so but you know what I mean) in society. We don't connect with each other any more, not properly. We don't look out for each other. But here, if God isn't listening to the lost souls then someone else is. As I said when I opened, Will Carver's books are really hard to review. But they are always entertaining, challenging and thought provoking and Upstairs at the Beresford is certainly that. It makes us consider what we really want and what we would be willing to do to get it. Would we go as far as some do here? Or should we be thankful about what we already have and less greedy? As always with his books,  Carver has left me with questions about myself and the world around me. And that's got to be a good thing, especially when it came via an absolutely cracking novel.


The Author

Will Carver is the international bestselling author of the January David series and the critically acclaimed, mind-blowingly original Detective Pace series, which includes Good Samaritans (2018), Nothing Important Happened Today (2019) and Hinton Hollow Death Trip (2020), all of which were ebook bestsellers and selected as books of the year in the mainstream international press. Nothing Important Happened Today was longlisted for both the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2020 and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Hinton Hollow Death Trip was longlisted for the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize, and was followed by four standalone literary thrillers, The Beresford, Psychopaths Anonymous, The Daves Next Door and Suicide Thursday. Will spent his early years in Germany, but returned to the UK at age eleven, when his sporting career took off. He currently runs his own fitness and nutrition company, and lives in Reading with his children.

Tuscan Enchantment by Kate Zarrelli

So, something a bit different today. Well, quite a lot different really from my usual digest of crime and darkness. I'm visiting the light side with a little bit of romance. And who doesn't like a happy ending? Especially when you haven't had one! 😂 Although I had no idea going into Tuscan Enchantment by Kate Zarrelli whether I would get my perfect ending or not! Many thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

Librarian Antonia Gray has fled England for northern Tuscany to recover after an unhappy love affair and to work on the archive of a 17th century Italian explorer, a member of a centuries-old aristocratic family. There she meets his descendent, Lorenzo Quattromani, rich, arrogant, handsome - and engaged to the beautiful and ruthless Austrian Giselle. The last thing Antonia wants is to fall in love, least of all with someone so incredibly dangerous. His engagement, though, is not what it seems, but while Lorenzo breaks down Antonia’s resistance Giselle has other ideas.


Buy Links

Romaunce Books 
Amazon UK 
Amazon US 

My Review

Regular visitors to this blog will know that romance isn't really my thing. Well, let me rephrase that - romance books don't feature heavily for me but I certainly wouldn't say no to an actual bit of real life romance! But I had previously read Kate Zarrelli's erotic novel, The Casanova Papers (being republished by Romaunce Books next year), and loved it so thought I'd take a chance with this one. Just to be clear, though, Tuscan Enchantment is not erotica (so please don't be concerned if that's not your thing) but lovely romance. 

Librarian Antonia has left the UK following a break up and headed to Italy to focus on work. She is helping the elderly Countess Laura Quattromani catalogue the family papers, specifically those of ancestor Gianluca Quattromani. The countess is visited by her handsome nephew with his glamorous fiancée and their arrival turns Antonia's life upside down. 

This is a quick read, just around two hours for me, but a wonderful bit of escapism. The Italian countryside and the faded grandeur of the villas are beautifully described. Lorenzo sounds gorgeous, as does Antonia, in a more earthy way. But I was ready to punch Giselle! You will be too. Although not central to the love story, I think the countess was my favourite character. Crotchety and sharp - she has some great retorts - but also kind and knowing. I'd love an aunt like her (although I love the aunts I have, of course)! 

You need to suspend disbelief a little bit for this story  (or maybe things like this do happen in real life), but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It's going back to what I said earlier about escapism - it's good to do sometimes! And it's a lovely story, full of ups and downs, love, heartbreak and sunshine. Tuscan Enchantment is the perfect read for a chilly autumn/winter day - get a fluffy blanket, a hot drink and a snack and while away a few hours in sunny Tuscany! Lovely and very enjoyable. 

The Author

Kate Zarrelli is a pen name of Katherine Mezzacappa, an Irish author who lives with her Italian husband and Iris the cat, in northern Tuscany, between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea - the setting for Tuscan Enchantment. As Katie Hutton she has published The Gypsy Bride, The Gypsy's Daughter and Annie of Ainsworth's Mill with Zaffre, with The Maid of Lindall Hall to follow next year. As Katherine Mezzacappa, her The Ballad of Mary Kearney will be published by Addison & Highsmith in 2023 and The Virgin of Florence with Fairlight Books the year after. Her short fiction has been published in a range of magazines worldwide. She is also a manuscript assessor for a major London literary consultancy. Kate has worked as a management consultant, a museum curator, a seamstress and a care assistant. In her spare time, she volunteers with a second-hand book charity of which she is a founder member. Kate's next title for Romaunce is an erotic love story set in Venice, The Casanova Papers, for publication January 2024.

Bloody Scotland 2023

Somehow it's four weeks since I got back from Bloody Scotland! Four weeks! How on earth did that happen? Well, I slept for the first week, as these things take it out of me. The other three, no idea where they went. There's been four book festivals in the UK, I think, since then and there are another two this forthcoming weekend. But I still wanted to share a bit about my Bloody Scotland weekend because it's one of the highlights of my year and one of my favourite festivals. Also, if you're thinking about coming next year, and I hope you are or that this piece will at least encourage you to think about it, you need to book accommodation sooner rather than later. There is somewhere to stay for every budget in Stirling but everywhere fills up really quickly for the festival weekend.

This year was the 11th Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival and my sixth, maybe seventh. It's a slick operation with a programme filled to bursting with fantastic events - there are four different ones for most time slots, so hard to choose! The programme is planned and overseen by Festival Director Bob McDevitt and the Bloody Scotland Board and runs with the help of techy people, booksellers and and a vast army of volunteers. The timings changed slightly this year with an earlier start on Friday afternoon and an earlier finish at Sunday lunchtime.

I have struggled quite badly with anxiety for the last three or four years, and even this festival, where I know so many people and places, now fills me with trepidation. For no reason, of course, but that's anxiety for you. So I was grateful to go with Lynsey Linn, who you can find over at Books by Bindu blog and also at the Murder at the Bookshop online shop, who has become a firm friend since we met at last year's festival. She was a most excellent wing woman and kept me calm. She also kept me right about what I was doing and where I was going!

I have learned from experience that I can't do too much and need to make sure I make time to eat and chill. So over the course of the weekend I attended seven events plus the opening celebrations and, of course, the Scotland vs England Crime Writers Football Match. I won't go into huge detail about all the panels I went to but they were all great. My phone camera isn't great so some of the panel pictures aren't that great, sorry!

Lynsey and I at the end of one of the panels

Friday was all about new books with firstly Alex Gray's New Crimes with Jo Callaghan, Martin Griffin, Fulton Ross and Alex Hay followed later on, after checking into our hotel, by the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Shortlist featuring Fulton Ross again, Kate Foster, Callum McSorley and Heather Critchlow. Unfortunately, the fifth shortlisted author, Heather Darwent, couldn't be there.

I was struck by how different all the books were in both panels, showing just how wide the crime fiction genre is. Let me take Alex Gray's New Crimes selection as an example. Jo Callaghan's In The Blink of an Eye features a detective with an AI partner, The Second Stranger by Martin Griffin has two strangers claiming to be the same person but who is telling the truth? The Unforgiven Dead by Fulton Ross features a policeman with second sight and references highland myths and legends and Alex Hay's The Housekeepers is set in the early 1900s and the servants aren't happy... I really enjoyed this panel and all the books sound great. 

Alex Gray's New Crimes

With Fulton Ross

The Debut Shortlist Panel was absolutely packed and it was great to hear these new authors talking about their work. I had read three of the five on the list and loved them all so very glad I didn't have to decide the winner! Another highlight of this event was meeting long time online friend Steve Munoz from Los Angeles, so that was pretty special.

The Debut Shortlist 

Meeting Steve Munoz

From there I headed up to the Church of the Holy Rude where we were piped in for the Opening Reception. We heard from Bob McDevitt and a representative of Stirling council and partook of excellent Bloody Scotland cocktails courtesy of Stirling Gin. 

Photo by Steve Munoz

Bob McDevitt at the Opening Reception

From there it was up to Stirling Castle for the annual torchlit parade down through the town. The rain didn't dampen our spirits, although Lynsey wimped out because she didn't have a hood! 😂 I love this tradition and it's great to see folk coming out of the pubs to watch us. I was really disappointed, though, that a panel was scheduled against this, particularly as it was one I would've loved to attend. I think this is the first time a panel has been held in this timeslot. 

Photo by Steve Munoz

With Patricia Forsyth

Photo by Steve Munoz

The parade culminated at the Albert Halls for the prizegiving. Big congratulations to Kate Foster for winning the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year with The Maiden and to Callum McSorley for winning to the Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year, with his debut book, Squeaky Clean. Both prizewinners were interviewed by Janice Forsyth. 

Callum McSorley, Janice Forsyth & Kate Foster

With Callum McSorley

After that if was off for food and a drink or two. For mixing with other festival goers, the bar at the Golden Lion Hotel is the place to be. It is small and gets very busy and very hot but you can spill out into the lobby. Had lovely chats with lots of people including a long one with author Marion Todd. A lovely wee night and we were back in our hotel room before 11.30pm - I'm old! 😂 This meant I didn't have enough stamina for the Darkest Web panel, another scheduling thing I didn't like because it sounded like a really interesting event. 

A big breakfast and a late start on Saturday as our first panel wasn't until noon. Hot Blood, Cold Blood with Anita Agnithotri, Abir Mukherjee and Doug Johnstone celebrating Scottish and Bengali writing was really interesting. Unfortunately the collection of short stories doesn't have a UK publisher yet but I could've listened to these three for hours.  

Hot Blood, Cold Blood

With Doug Johnstone

I stayed on in the same venue for the next panel whilst Lynsey went to do her own thing for a while - honestly, it's a miracle I survived those few hours! That was mainly because other people kept me right - I definitely need a responsible adult with me at all times! 😂 Travellers with William Hussey, Graham Bartlett and Tina Baker was terrific and possibly my favourite panel of the weekend (although there was stiff competition) because it's a community I know nothing about). William and Tina both grew up in travelling fairground communities and William has gone back to his roots with Killing Jericho which features a traveller detective. Make Me Clean, Tina's book, has a cleaner of gypsy origin who tidies all her client's problems. Graham was Police Commander of Brighton, where there is a permanent traveller site, for four years and drew on that experience in Force of Hate. A fascinating discussion around otherness and prejudice, both towards and within communities. 

Travellers. Photo by Mandie Griffiths

The sun shone for the football match at Kings Park which was excellent. A great match, made even better by the company of good friends and the presence of a Stirling Gin pop up bar, so more cocktails for me. Final score was Scotland 12, England 3, with Fulton Ross winning Man of the Match. A bite to eat and a quick drink and then off to see Mark Billingham and Antti Tuomainen at the Albert Halls. What a laugh that was. Two naturally funny men chatting away. I haven't read Mark's new one yet but have only heard good things. I love The Rabbit Factor trilogy from Antti Tuomainen and just reviewed the final book, The Beaver Theory, on here earlier in the month. 

Craig Sisterton interviewing Mark Billingham & Antti Tuomainen 

Mark Billingham

Antti Tuomainen

Catching up with Thomas Enger, whose panel I unfortunately missed due to the torchlit parade

Lynsey went back to the hotel so I headed off to rendezvous with Steve Munoz at Everybody Needs Good Neighbours featuring Louise Candlish, Sarah Hilary and Kia Abdullah chaired by Douglas Skelton. Another interesting panel and I particularly liked the sound of Sarah's book, Black Thorn, featuring an autistic character. 

Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

Then a quick drink with lovely friends including  Jonathan Whitelaw, (the only one I remembered to get a picture with! D'oh!) before heading to bed.

With Jonathan Whitelaw

A lovely chat over Sunday breakfast with author Fiona Erskine then coffee and goodbyes (until next time) with Steve. 

My final panel of the weekend was Ripped From The Headlines, a lively and engaging conversation with TV newshounds Martin Patience and Sarah Sultoon (BBC and CNN respectively) and climate scientist Paul Hardisty, chaired by Bryan Burnett. All had turned to fiction as they felt it can get a message across in a way news headlines or written reports just can't. I think Paul felt it the most keenly as he is confronted daily by people who continue to deny the climate crisis even when confronted by evidence it exists. The hour went far too quickly. 

Ripped from the Headlines

My weekend was finished off by a lovely lunch with relatives before the return home and to my bed. 

Books may have been bought... 
(Three came with me from home for signing) 

So there you have it, my potted experience at Bloody Scotland 2023 - thank you if you're still here. There was so much more, of course, but only so much I could do and only so much I can share here before you all get bored! I'm sorry, too, that it took me a month to get this on here - absolutely shocking effort! I can't recommend this weekend enough - it's a really open, welcoming and accommodating festival full of lovely people. Don't worry if you're thinking of coming on your own - you will have found new friends by the time you leave. Stirling itself has embraced the festival too and you'll often find yourself chatting away in shops and cafes. Next year's dates have been announced and they are - drum roll, please - 13th to 15th September. Get checking out that accommodation now, you won't regret it! 

White as Snow by Lilja Sigurðadóttir (translated by Quentin Bates)

Having already visited Finland and Norway this month, I'm off to Iceland today for my stop on the blog tour for White as Snow, the third book in the An Árora Investigation series, by Lilja Sigurðardóttir and translated into English by Quentin Bates. I loved the first two in this series so was delighted to have the chance to review this one. My thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

The atmospheric, twisty, breathtakingly tense An Áróra Investigation series continues, as crimes committed far beyond Iceland’s shores come home…

On a snowy winter morning, an abandoned shipping container is discovered near Reykjavík. Inside are the bodies of five young women – one of them barely alive.

As Icelandic Police detective Daníel struggles to investigate the most brutal crime of his career, Áróra looks into the background of a suspicious man, who turns out to be engaged to Daníel's former wife, and the connections don’t stop there…

Daníel and Áróra’s cases pit them both against ruthless criminals with horrifying agendas, while Áróra persists with her search for her missing sister, Ísafold, whose devastating disappearance continues to haunt her.

As the temperature drops and the 24-hour darkness and freezing snow hamper their efforts, their investigations become increasingly dangerous … for everyone.

White as Snow is published by Orenda Books and came out last Thursday.

 

My Review

This is the third book in the An Árora Investigation series, following Cold as Hell and Red as Blood. Having initially come to Iceland reluctantly, Árora is now much more settled, has bought a flat and has income from the financial fraud cases she takes on. And her search for Ísafold continues. Here she takes a case for policeman Daníel's ex wife where she comes across a face from the past and she also finds connections with the truly awful case that Danel is working on. An abandoned shipping container containing four read women and a fifth who is barely alive has been discovered.  And Árora and Daníel continue to dance around their feelings. 

I really like Árora. She's confident and forthright, except around Daníel, and dogged in her determination to find her sister but also to do a thorough job in her financial investigations. Elín is madly in love with a younger man who wants to marry her but she just isn't sure she can trust him, which is where Árora comes in. I really felt for Elín. She so wants to believe everything will be alright, that her doubts about her lover will prove unfoumded. Her emotions were all over the place, understandably, and I just wanted to give her a big hug! I'm not going to say too much about Bisi except that she had been through the emotional wringer and she put me through one too. There is an exquisitely written scene in the mortuary which is both touching and heartbreaking. 

And Daníel. Poor Daníel. He is haunted by the sight of the inside of the shipping container and we see him struggling with his emotions around it whilst working on the case. And juggling childcare as the kids are with him for a visit. To be fair most of the childcare is handled by his neighbour and tenant, drag queen Lady Gúgúlú. I absolutely adore her. She's kind, colourful, loving and ever so slightly bonkers. I'm sure she must be a lot of fun to write. 

The story is told from several viewpoints as the police case and Árora's investigation come together amid mounting tension, and fear some cases. The storyline is awful, horrifying and desperately sad but I know that similar happens in the real world. That makes this even more poignant. 

White is Snow is a well written tale of trafficking, deceit and betrayal, but there are also moments of acceptance, friendship and love amongst the horror. Beautifully developed characters and a real sense of injustice and anger go towards making this a cracking read. Looking forward to the next instalment already! 

The Author

Bestselling crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written ten crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavík Noir trilogy, and her standalone thriller Betrayal, all of which have hit bestseller lists worldwide and been long- and shortlisted for multiple awards. The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Cold as Hell, the first book in the An Áróra Investigation series, was published in the UK in 2021 and reprinted twice, and was followed by Red as Blood, a number-one digital bestseller. Lilja lives outside of Reykjavík with her partner and a brood of chickens.

Stigma by Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger (translated by Megan E Turney)

Today's blog tour stop is for Stigma, the fourth book in the Blix and Ramm series, by Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger and translated into English by Megan E Turney. Thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to the publishers for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

Alexander Blix is a broken man. Convicted for avenging his daughter’s death, he is now being held in one of Norway’s high-security prisons. Inside, the other prisoners take every opportunity to challenge and humiliate the former police investigator.

On the outside, Blix’s former colleagues have begun the hunt for a terrifying killer. Walter Kroos has escaped from prison in Germany and is making his way north. The only lead established by the police is that Kroos has a friend in Blix’s prison ward. And now they need Blix’s help.

Journalist Emma Ramm is one of Blix’s few visitors, and she becomes his ally as he struggles to connect the link between past and present, between the world inside and outside the prison walls. And as he begins to piece things together, he identifies a woodland community in Norway where deeply scarred inhabitants foster deadly secrets … secrets that may be the unravelling of everyone involved.

Stigma is published by Orenda Books and comes out this Thursday.

 

My Review

Stigma is the fourth in the series featuring policeman Alexander Blix and journalist Emma Ramm following Death Deserved, Smoke Screen and Unhinged. I've read all the books in the series (you can see my reviews by clicking on the titles) and enjoyed them all.

After the events at the end of the last book, Blix is in prison awaiting his appeal. Being a policeman behind bars is not ideal, and although Blix tries to keep himself to himself, trouble still seems to find him. He's not a man with many friends at the best of times. In fact, his only regular visitor is young journalist Emma Ramm. So Blix is surprised when his boss comes to see him... to ask for his help. A dangerous criminal has escaped from custody in Germany who seems to be heading to Norway. And he has links with a prisoner in Blix's corridor. Naturally, he asks Emma to look into both men, and this sets them both on an unexpected path. 

So this is a change of background scenery from previous novels, given that Blix is in prison. And we're shown how tough it is for him to be a policeman behind bars, how isolating. Being asked to work on a case helps him I think, gives home something to focus on. Of course, there's only so much he can do behind bars but he is tasked with trying to get information about the plans of Walter Kroos from someone in the prison they believe might have that information. Trouble is, it's someone that Blix has already locked horns with. 

The main storyline is told in a dual timeline between Walter Kroos's teenage years and his movements in the present day, alongside the investigations of Emma and Blix. I really liked how we move backwards and forwards between people, places and across time, until everything dovetails together. The scene setting is excellent too - the isolation of life in prison and the very different isolation in the cabins of the holiday park which features heavily in the story. 

I've always loved the relationship between Alexander Blix and Emma Ramm because it's a dynamic you don't see very often. Him, a world weary, brow beaten policeman getting on a bit and her, a twenty something journalist just starting to make her mark on the world. But these two have found each other, in fact, their connection goes back a long way, and formed a solid friendship, perhaps, for both of them, something akin to a father daughter relationship. And that relationship is solid, they are there for each other and have been through adventures and tragedies, it's a joy to read.

The storyline cuts deep as the authors peel back the details. Tragic events and abused of trust with long-lasting consequences resurface and we meet some truly damaged individuals, all of whom are well drawn. Samantha was a standout character for me. There is serious danger for Emma, and concern for Blix.  Stigma is a tale of violence, damage and hate, but also one of love and friendship. I don't know if there will be more Blix and Ramm, as things look set to change for our pair, but I hope so. I've really enjoyed this series. 

The Authors

Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger are both internationally bestselling Norwegian authors. Jørn Lier Horst first rose to literary fame with his no. 1 bestselling William Wisting series. A former investigator in the Norwegian police, Horst imbues all his works with an unparalleled realism and suspense. Thomas Enger is the journalist-turned-author behind the internationally acclaimed Henning Juul series. Enger’s trademark is his dark, gritty voice paired with key social messages and tight plotting. Besides writing fiction for both adults and young adults, Enger also works as a music composer. Death Deserved, the first book in the bestselling Blix and Ramm series, was Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger’s first co-written thriller and was followed by Smoke Screen and Unhinged.